15/07/2023 5 Minute Read

WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Group A - USA and Australia claim tickets to Finals 2024

USA beat Great Britain to claim the first ticket before Australia beat Chinese Taipei and Great Britain to claim the second.

World No.1 and three-time defending world champions USA beat Great Britain in the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group A final on Saturday in Balbriggan, Ireland to claim the first ticket to the World Cup Finals in Italy next year. Australia beat Great Britain in the repechage game under lights and misty rain in the last game of the tournament to claim the second ticket. Great Britain, who finished third, remain in contention for a Finals 2024 wildcard depending on the results of Group B and Group C.

Favourites USA are on a 28 game winning streak in the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup (and World Games) going back to the final of the 2014 edition when they lost to Japan and they continued that impressive form in Balbriggan winning all four games played.

Meanwhile, Australia had a phenomenal last 24 hours in the tournament. After beating Chinese Taipei in the last round robin game on Friday, the world No. 9 beat the world No. 3 for a second time on Saturday to confirm a spot to play Great Britain for the playoff for the remaining Finals ticket. In both games on Saturday, Australia came from behind to win showing great tenacity and stamina.

Day Five Results

Game 18: Great Britain v USA 0-7 Box Score/Play by Play Highlights
Game 17: Chinese Taipei v Australia 3-4 Box Score/Play by Play Highlights
Game 19: Australia (Winner of Game 17) v Great Britain (Loser of Game 18) - 4-1 Box Score/Play by Play Highlights
Game 16: Botswana v Ireland - Cancelled due to lack of time following weather delay

The first game between USA & Great Britain, after starting at 08:00, was delayed by rain at 08:50. Restarted at 16:00.
The last game of the day between Botswana and Ireland could not be played due to lack of time following weather delay. Ireland finish fifth and Botswana sixth.
Winner of Game 18 & Game 19 claim a ticket to next year's Finals.
Winner of Game 17 could also be in contention for Finals wild card - Tournament Format
Great Britain and USA top pool play standings with three wins from three games
First WBSC tournament to feature the new two-stage format
Last two days - Friday and Saturday - affected by heavy rain
Next group - Group B - starts on Tuesday in Valencia, Spain
The 15th of July marks one year to go to the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals in Italy next year,
Tournament Website
Tournament Regulations
Photos
Watch live on GameTime.Sport

Photos of the Day

Repechage - Australia v Great Britain

After their sensational 4-3 semifinal win over Chinese Taipei, which finished at 17:05, Australia will take on Great Britain in the playoff game for the last ticket on offer from Group A at 17:35.

Great Britain beat Australia 2-0 in the opening game of the tournament on Tuesday but with a ticket to the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals 2024 on the line, there's no doubt it's going to be a different ballgame today.

Great Britain get on the board first with a loose pitch allowing Tia Warsop home to lead 1-0 at the bottom of the first.

Massive fifth inning for Australia, with loaded bases Kylie Steemers and Clare Warwick were hit by pitches from Georgina Corrick to score Tamieka Whitefield and skipper Taylah Tsitsikronis before Steemers and Jade Wall got home on a wild throw to first base, went past the glove of Great Britain's Chloe Wigington.

The remaining of the game was on an edge to see if Great Britain would launch a comeback. Under light rain and floodlights on at the ground, it didn't materialise and Australia celebrated a remarkable victory and the second team to advance to WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals 2024 after USA earlier today.

Chinese Taipei v Australia

In a repeat of yesterday's pool play game, which was won by Australia 5-0, the two teams play again for a chance to play against Great Britain in the repechage game and a ticket to the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals in Italy 2024.

And it's world No. 3 Chinese Taipei who get on the board first. They couldn't manage a run from six hits yesterday and today it's took the second innings to see Szu-Shih Li homer over left field off Kaia Parnaby.

Tied ball game! The impressive Kylie Steemers hits a ground ball to centre field to score Tamieka Whitefield in the bottom of the third before skipper Taylah Tsitsikronis also scores to give the world No. 9 the lead.

Tsitsikronis hits a fly ball to centre field to score Shannon Keevers, who has previously hit a lead off triple to extend Australia's lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth.

Whitefield scored again after stealing home from third after first base Chih-Ying Lin couldn't pick up Yi-Tang Yang's throw from second base, trying to tag out Keevers. Australia 4-1 up after six innings.

Chia-Yun Chang triples to left field over the top of the outstretched glove of Philippa Adkins to score Chia-Wen Shen and Chih-Ying Lin in the top of the seventh to put the pressure back on Australia at 4-3 with two out. Australia coach Laing Harrow calls it and replaces pitcher Kaia Parnaby with Ellen Roberts who strikes out Yi-Ting Yang looking.

Great Britain v USA

And an exciting first game of the day with the winner between USA and Great Britain punching a ticket to the World Cup Finals next year. Great anticipation from both sides.

Defending champions and world No. 1 USA and Great Britain, playing above their world ranking of 16, are both unbeaten in the tournament so far.

Great Britain are on course to secure their best finish ever in a WBSC Women's Softball World Cup (if they advance to the Finals next year where there will be eight teams featuring) having finished 10th in 2006 and 11th three times, including their last appearance in 2018 in Chiba, Japan.

Twelve-time champions USA are on a 22 game winning streak in the WBSC Women's Softball World Cup going back to the final of the 2014 edition when they lost to Japan in the final. Make that total 27 when you count the World Games 2022, which awarded the title of world champion.

Ally Carda starts as pitcher for USA and keeps the British batting lineup quiet in the top of the first while Rebecca Faulkner is in the pitching circle for Great Britain today as two-way star of the tournament to date Georgina Corrick looks to be rested for potentially the repechage game if needed.

Bottom of the first and veteran Ali Aguilar puts Faulkner over the deep right field fence to put USA up 2-0 with Hannah Flippen having reached base on catcher's interference.

Great catch from Alana Snow in right field on the run to deny Nicole Bates to make it three and three down in the bottom of the second. Score remains 2-0 to the defending champions.

Rain starting to fall during the bottom of the third inning and with the grey clouds gathering in the west, it's not looking promising.

With the rain getting harder, home plate umpire Marni Bodnarchuk has called a weather delay at 08:50.

09:20 The rain is getting harder so not looking like this is a passing shower, especially when you see the weather forecast.

11:00 Still the rain is persisting. Forecast suggesting it will stay this way for the next few hours. No update on the status of today's games since the weather looks to have set in.

12:00 With rain still falling the Tournament Committee has announced that there won't be any play before 16:00 with an inspection planned for 15:00 to verify the state of play.

14:50 Weather lightening up with the rain even stopping from time to time. Inspection due in 10 minutes to see what playing options we have.

15:00 Great news. Inspection complete and we have the green light to restart at 16:00.

15:30 Teams out on the field getting set to play, part two. USA lead Great Britain, 2-0, in the bottom of the third. USA has the bases loaded with two out.

16:00 We are back underway with Jocelyn Alo on the plate and change of pitcher for Great Britain with Hannah Edwards now on the mound.

Eventually the US offence got their eye in and took to Edwards in the fifth inning scoring five with Ali Aguilar, Kiki Milloy, Sahvanna Jaquish, Alo and Maya Ann Timmons all getting home on the back of solid hitting and good base running.

The 7-0 win in the bottom of the fifth courtesy of the Run Ahead Rule sparked celebrations with USA booking a spot in the next year's Finals in Italy.